The computer as a target - attacking other people's computers with malware or other damaging attacks.

The computer as a weapon - committing "traditional" crimes that can be committed offline too, such as theft or illegal gambling.

The computer as an accessory - using a computer to store illegal or stolen information.

Victims of cyber crimes can lose their money, their jobs, their dignity and their good name, and it can take years to repair the damage. Remember, if it's a crime offline, you can bet it's also a crime online, and it can have just as severe of a punishment.

Cyber Criminals

Here you will find information about the people who commit cyber crimes.

Insider Attack

When someone who has permission to access a system or network misuses that access to attack the network or steal data. Insider attacks can be difficult to trace because most security measures are designed to protect against outside attacks and insiders can know how to avoid them. They can also happen by accident when a network isn't properly secured, someone can stumble across data that they shouldn't be allowed to access.

Phishing

A social engineeringscam in which the cyber criminal sends a potential victim an email with a link to a fake website. The email message and website are designed to trick the victim into thinking they are from a credible source like their bank or PayPal. If the victim falls for it and enters their information into the site, the cyber criminal can steal it.

Phishing Filter

Defensive software that protects you from phishing attacks. Phishing filters are usually an add-on for web browsers or email software, and they attempt to identify phishing content in web pages and emails.

Script Kiddie

Server, Proxy

A server that has a job to do with information travelling between a computer and another server on the network. Some proxy servers protect users' personal information by encrypting their connection, others block certain websites or scan for malware before the data is delivered. They can also be used for bad purposes, like to access a website that someone does not have permission to access.

Social Engineering

A tactic used by cyber criminals that uses lies and manipulation to trick people into revealing their personal information. Social engineering attacks frequently involve very convincing fake stories to lure victims into their trap.

Spam

The Internet version of junk mail, a cyber crime where someone sends the same message to several people, usually to advertise something. Spammers collect email addresses for their attacks by illegally scanning cookies or looking for addresses on websites.

Weirdo Strangers

White Hat Hacker

Zero Day Attack

A cyber attack that takes advantage of vulnerabilities in newly released and un-patchedsoftware. Cyber criminals launch the attack on the first day new software is available, before the developers can create and distribute a patch for it.

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

An act created by the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect the personal information of children in cyberspace. In order to comply, websites that collect information from children under the age of 13 (like for registering an account) must require a parent's permission before they do so.

Cold Shoulder

Copyright

The rights granted to the author or creator of an original work such as a book, song, website, or picture. It gives the creator the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work, and prevents other people from doing so without getting the creator's permission first.

Copyright Infringment

Cyber Bully

Cyber Bullying

Using the Internet to harass, intimidate, embarrass, or put down others. This can include posting embarrassing information on web pages, tricking people into giving out personal information, sending threatening or cruel messages or emails, or pretending to be somebody else to send mean or embarrassing messages.

Cyber Forensics

Cyber Monday

The first Monday after Thanksgiving, it is the peak online holiday shopping day in the United States. It is also a big day for cyber crimes and scams, as cyber criminals try to take advantage of the online shoppers.

Cyber Piracy

Using a computer to copy or share materials that are protected by copyright without the creator's permission. The most common form of cyber piracy is copying and distributing music, movies or software programs, but it can also be as simple as installing certain software on more than one computer.

Cyber Predator

Cyber Squatting

When someone registers a domain name so they can sell it for a high price later to someone who really wants it. Some cybersquatters buy URLs that are similar to popular existing sites to fool people into checking their sites out.

Cyber Villain

Cyber Woozling

Gathering data from someoneís computer without their knowledge or permission when they visit a website. This is done through web browsercookies, user-installed plug-ins and extra code sent to the personís computer. Stolen information can include email addresses, what websites you visited and how long you spent at them.

Defamation

Denial-of-Service Attacks

Flooding a network or server with traffic in order to make it unavailable to its users. A Denial-of-Service attack can make a website completely unusable and is a tactic used by cyber criminals to harm businesses or companies.

Fraud

Gold Farmers

People who play online games to earn game money to sell to others online. Selling and purchasing this gold is usually in violation of the Terms of Use, and the workers who actually play the game are usually treated horribly by the company and make very little money.

Hacker, Grey Hat

Hacker, White Hat

A hacker who is a cyber defender and specializes in testing the security of information systems. They will attempt to hack into a company's network and then present the company with a report detailing the existing security holes and how those holes can be fixed.

Hacking

Hoax

A deliberate attempt to deceive or trick someone into believing or accepting that something is real or true, when the hoaxster knows it is not. A hoax is similar to fraud, but a hoaxster doesn't intend to gain anything from the victim or harm them.